A Passion Rekindled (15 page)

As the weeks went on Scarlett found herself unable to control anything around her. The only thing she could control was what happened when she and Danger got together. With Val messing around with Pj, things seemed to be getting worse. Especially at home.

“Scarlett get in here. Now!”

Scarlett walked into the living room wearing an all in one black jumpsuit. Her hair was up in a high ponytail and she wore black boots. She frowned as she saw the angry expression on her mom’s face.

“I just got off the phone with your principle my dear.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah oh! You going to tell me why you have been late 32 times in the last three months and why you are skipping classes? Why he said if you continue on this path you won’t graduate?”

“Mom I can’t deal with this right now.”

“You can’t?”

“No I can’t so drop it.”

Genie moved closer to her. “Well you better start talking because I have had it up to here with this mess. Scarlett you are a smart girl you are better than this.”

“How would you know? It’s not like you’re ever home.”

“I have to work.”

“All the time?”

“This house cost money the bills cost money you think I want this life but it’s all your father and I can do to keep you guys happy and safe.”

Scarlett laughed. “Happy and safe? Yeah well don't come in here trying to tell me how to be. I have been doing well without your help.”

“Really so you and Val jumping some poor girl last week that was doing well.”

“She pissed us off.”

“Pissed you off? Little girl.” Genie warned with her voice. Scarlett turned towards her angrily.

“I am not a little girl anymore I am 17 today and since you didn’t call me in here to say happy birthday this conversation is over.”

“Scarlett if you want to make it your 18th birthday I suggest you change your attitude.”

“Or what? I don't have to listen to this I have better things to do and better places to be.”

Scarlett turned around and walked away. Genie grabbed her.

“Scarlett Summer Hale what has gotten into you?”

“Not what mother who? And if you were doing your job you would know.” Scarlett walked out the door with tears in her eyes. 

“Where are you going? We are going to finish this.”

“I am going out I won’t be back until late maybe not at all so I advise you find a sitter for your children.” She walked down the stairs and walked out the door.

Later that night, Scarlett stepped out the car as Danger stood with Pj and Val. Val moved forward but tripped over her foot and fell. Pj and Danger laughed as Scarlett bent down to help her.

“What is wrong with you that’s not funny?”

“I tumbled.”

“Pj what did you give her?”

“Something awesome she is on cloud nine.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means can we hurry up and get inside I am waiting for my Scarlett to be a bad girl.” Danger groped Scarlett as he followed her up the stairs to her apartment. 

“So where is mommy dearest?”

“Working. All night long I guess she left me a message saying the kids are with my aunt, and Darrel is gone with the wind so how about we cut the chatting and get to the good stuff.”

Scarlett led him in her room and sat on the bed. He leaned in and began to kiss her. As he laid her back, Genie walked in seeing red. She turned the light on and pulled Scarlett out into the living room and Danger followed. Scarlett pulled away from her.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“What the hell am I doing? No what the hell are you doing? And with him? Do you girls know that these guys are in their twenties?” 

“Mom you need to go back to work and leave it alone.”

“You losers get the hell out of my house before I call the cops.”

“I don't think Scarlett wants me to leave do you baby?”

Scarlett looked at Danger and he gave her a piercing stare. She sighed.

“No I don't.”

“Well this is my place so I don't give a rat’s ass. Get the hell out now.”

“No.”

Pj stood beside Danger and smirked.

“Make us.”

“Make you? Ok.”

Genie walked to the phone and grabbed it but before she could dial, Danger grabbed her. He threw her to the ground and PJ was about to hit her when Scarlett stood in between them.

“James don’t please.”

“She disrespected me Scarlett.”

“James you leave her the hell alone you hear me. You promised me you wouldn’t hurt her.”

Danger stepped away and stared at Scarlett for a moment then turned.

“You got an hour to get this handled. Then I'm coming back and if her attitude isn’t better I am going handle her.”

He walked out the door followed by Pj and Val. Genie stood up and picked the phone back up. She started to dial again but Scarlett stopped her.

“Mom don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t call the police.”

“Why not? That bastard was in there about to have sex with you and he shoved me oh I'm calling.”

“Please don't.”

“Don’t tell me you love that boy? He's a grown man Scarlett and you’re 17.”

“I don't love him.”

“So why are you hanging around him? Why are you being this way?”

Scarlett folded her arm afraid to answer. Genie exhaled deeply.

“You are never going to see him again you hear me.”

Scarlett turned to her mom with tears in her eyes. “Mom I have too.”  

“No you don't. When your father gets off of work we will talk about this.”

“Work? Your husband is off somewhere getting high with your son.”

“What? No he is at work.”

“A job where he is never home right? You ever wonder why he can make his own hours. Why he is making so much money but looking more and more like a cracker on the street?”

“He hasn’t been feeling well.”

“Yeah being high twenty four seven will do that to you.”

“I don't believe you.”

“Really? Well how about you call him at work? Oh, I remember he is not allowed personal calls at the office. Wake up and take those blinders off. Your husband has been using drugs for the last five years maybe longer. He used to handle it better but now he’s just sloppy.”

“No he may smoke but he doesn’t use drugs.”

“Yeah he does. And so if you don't want to have to get a second job I have to call James and fix this.”

“Why?”

“Because he has been paying the bills in this house. He pays me and I put it in the bank so you think that loser is doing something. Everyone wins but me.”

“He is paying you for what?”

Scarlett looked away from her mother but Genie turned her towards her.

“Paying for what Scarlett?”

“Paying for me.”

Genie fell into the chair and looked distraught.

“For you?”

“Yeah. I'm his girl and have been for a while.”

“A while? How long is a while?”

“He has been taking care of me since I was 11.”

“You have been having sex with him for five years?”

“No that just started a couple months ago.”

“Scarlett how could you be so stupid. He is a drug dealer. I can’t believe you are such an idiot.”

Scarlett moved away from her. “Yeah that’s me stupid Scarlett. I didn't ask for this mom. You think I wanted my first time to be taken from me? You think I enjoyed James raping me while your husband and son were in the living room getting high.”

“He, he raped you?”

“He made me his and your husband let him.”

“No your father wouldn’t do that.”

“He is no father of mines!” She spat. “He traded me mom. He traded me so he wouldn’t have to pay what he owed Danger.”

“Stop it you’re lying.”

“Yeah of course I am lying. I couldn’t be telling the truth. Maybe you aren’t telling me the truth.”

“What?”

“I find it odd that you don't know what's going on in your own house.”

“You think I would let that man touch you? And not try to stop him?”

“If it made your life easier then yeah I do.”

“Scarlett I would never let anyone touch you. Baby girl from the moment you were put in my arms I just wanted to protect you.”

“Great job mom.”

Scarlett walked away from her and Genie stood up. “You have to stop this you have too.”

“He will kill you or Devon and Maggie. Mom I was never going to amount to anything anyways this is the least I can contribute to the family.”

“Scarlett you are just a child.”

“No I'm not, not anymore.”

“Scarlett just because he took that from you doesn’t make you grown.”

“No? Well does being pregnant?”

Genie’s heart fell to her stomach. “What?”

“I'm pregnant mom.”

“Are you sure?”

“I haven’t had a period in a few months and he's never worn protection.”

“What are a few months?”

“Three.”

“Three? Scarlett.” 

“I know I’m stupid and an idiot.”

“No sweetie you’re not.”

Genie walked over to her and hugged her.

“It’s ok we are going to get through this we always do.”

Genie hugged her and in that hug Scarlett let the tears she’d been afraid to cry shed.  “Mom I’m sorry.”

“No baby I am sorry. I knew something was going on but I just didn't want to see it. I never thought this would happen.”

“Mom I’m worried. I have tried to get away from him. I have but nothing works.”

“Well I am here now and we will get through this.”

They both turned to the door as Darrel walked into the apartment. Genie jumped up and started to hit him. Because he was so high, he fell backwards and curled up in the fetal position.

“Genie stop.”

“You no good rotten bastard. How could you do this to your own daughter?”

Genie felt herself grow weak and tumbled backwards. Scarlett held her. “Mom I'm sorry I'm so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault baby. I will fix this.”

Scarlett looked away but Genie pulled her face back to hers.

“Scarlett look at me. I promise you I will fix this. No one will hurt you again.”

Back to the present.

Christian stared at her for a moment then pulled her into his arms.

“Oh Scarlett I'm sorry.”

“Because he told me he would kill them I went along with it I couldn’t let him hurt them. So when he called I answered. Sometimes I
would have to sneak out at night to meet him. It would go off in the middle of class.”

Scarlett wiped the tears from her eyes. “And when I found out I was pregnant I lost my mind.”

“Wow.”

“So you like a woman who was given to a drug dealer for her father’s bill. Every single time Danger came to me, every time my dad allowed him to do come to me made me hate him. Your mom was right about me. I don't belong in your world. I had a daughter at 17.”

“Scarlett that wasn’t your fault you did everything you could to stop him…why wouldn’t I want to be with you? I care about you a lot.”

“I still haven’t forgiven myself for what happened to Val.”

“What happened to her?”

“When I got out I tried to get her out too. Her parents gave her everything she wanted. They were well off and she never had anything bad happen, to her so when she met Pj she enjoyed the thrill. I did everything I could think of to get her out I even called her parents after I got out but she wouldn’t forgive me.”

“Forgive you?”

“While I never allowed myself to be sucked into that world never used drugs, never drank she did it all. Her parents shipped her off to her grandparents and she ran away from them to be with Pj she got turnt out and her parents shipped her to a boarding school when they found her. I tried reaching out to her but she has never forgiven me for it.”

“It wasn’t your fault you tried to stop her.”

“But there’s more.”

“More?”

“About five years ago I met this guy. He was everything to me. We dated for about fifteen months and we got married.”

“You’ve been married before?”

“It was doomed from the start we went to the courthouse because with my mom being sick and none of his family could be there it was just easier. But when we got married, my mom got worse and Angel couldn’t bear to be away from her. So I was living back and forth between Philly and Napa. It strained our relationship and he ended up cheating on me with an ex. The day I found out, I was on my way to pick Angel up, and well my mom wasn’t doing well. After a few weeks
I filed for divorce didn’t see the point in being in a marriage where I shared my husband.”